College-Savings Gender Divide: Readers Weigh In

The passionate reaction to our article on parents putting more aside for sons than daughters

‘Could it be possible that parents believe their daughters may more easily qualify for grants and scholarships?’ asked one reader. Illustration: Gérard Dubois for The Wall Street Journal

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Dec. 3, 2017 10:03 p.m. ET

Readers had strong reactions to last month’s Investing in Funds & ETFs article about the gender divide in college savings. The article, citing two financial-industry studies this year, pointed out evidence that parents are saving more for sons than daughters for higher education.

One study, by mutual-fund company T. Rowe Price, found that 50% of parents of boy-only households had money saved for children’s college, compared with 39% of parents of girl-only households. (The firm’s similar study three years earlier found...

Readers had strong reactions to last month’s Investing in Funds & ETFs article about the gender divide in college savings. The article, citing two financial-industry studies this year, pointed out evidence that parents are saving more for sons than daughters for higher education.

One study, by mutual-fund company
T. Rowe Price,
found that 50% of parents of boy-only households had money saved for children’s college, compared with 39% of parents of girl-only households. (The firm’s similar study three years earlier found that 53% of boys reported that their parents were saving for college, compared with 42% of girls.)

More in Investing in Funds & ETFs

The second study this year, by student-loan marketplace LendEDU, found that females generally received less help paying for college than their male peers—6% of women said their parents paid for a majority of college, compared with 10% of men.

One theory is that parents have more confidence in their daughters’ abilities to get financial aid. Another is that some parents still figure a daughter won’t have the long career that they expect a son will have.

In any case, the readers spoke. Here are edited excerpts of some responses:

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When I told my girlfriend about the article, she said, “Oh, that seems obvious to me. Girls cost way more to raise than boys.” I think that this would especially have an impact on the difference in savings for parents with girls only vs. parents with boys only. I am only hypothesizing, but I think that this would decrease the overall savings for both boys and girls in families that have both.

—Jerry Wallman

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I know of no parents that think this way; they treasure their daughters as much as their sons. And there are many more women than men in college these days, so they do seem to be getting there.

—James Leppert

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Daughters don’t take courses that pay the bills.

—Bill Wald

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If we add up parents’ expected financial contributions to their daughters’ weddings and college, does the number work out to be about the same as what they put away for their sons?

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Forty years ago my parents sent both my brother and me to private high school and the Ivy League colleges. I never once doubted that they were committed to giving us both the most opportunity they could.

—Mary Giannini

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This article seems to have touched a raw nerve. If you have children, or nieces or nephews, keep it in mind. If it doesn’t apply to your family, be glad. If it does, you may have valid reasons. But girls don’t marry husbands who earn enough to allow them to be stay-at-home wives like 50 years ago.

—Harold Lampi

***

More time should have been spent on the STEM issue [degrees in science, technology, engineering and math]. Colleges currently charge the same tuition regardless of field of study, and the return on STEM investment is significantly higher.

While mine is but a single testimonial, it is enlightening: My sisters and my wife all have master’s degrees and have each spent at least double on their education. Between the three of them, they have eight degrees. And yet, I, with my lowly bachelor’s of physics, earn more than all of them put together.

I am not trying to be boastful, merely stating the truth: Women are less likely to choose STEM fields, and STEM fields pay [more]. Hence, as long as tuition remains unrelated to field of study, the return on investment of a STEM education will be higher, and differential saving for one’s children’s field of study is appropriate.

—Jonathan Lawry

***

Interesting article that made many valid points and concerns. However, as the parent of both a female in college and a son almost there, I was disappointed that the article was incomplete.

The writer did not explore the general cost difference in raising a girl versus a boy. Girls are more expensive in general: clothes, interests, etc. Plus, I am hearing that the brides’ parents are still expected to foot the bill for a wedding.

It is possible that parents are factoring these expenses with education as a whole, not just an educational 50-50. That may not be fair educationally, but as a big picture it matters. As an aside, my children receive equal financial opportunities educationally.

—Christine Byrne

***

I am a woman. This article is sadly true. I can’t tell you how many of the few females in my engineering classes could tell you the same story. Just because you don’t “see” it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Unfortunately it is.

—D Smith

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Could it be possible that parents believe their daughters may more easily qualify for grants and scholarships?

I am one of six children, four of whom are women, and all of whom graduated college. Of my own five children, both of my daughters graduated with degrees with zero government help. They each succeeded because of one thing: They didn’t listen to those who told them they should constantly whine about being girls.

—Gilbert Brown

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When more young women choose to major in fields that lead to good-paying jobs and solid careers—as opposed to “XXXXX Studies”—perhaps parents will more willing to pay for a pricey degree.

—AA Byron

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The study polled all-girl and all-boy families, yet the scolds who conducted the studies speak like parents are treating sons and daughters differently (unless I missed something here).

In any event, women are going to take over the world eventually: More women are graduating from college than men. I’m not worried about my daughters.

—Ted Howard

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Maybe parents are more willing to spend a lot of money on a STEM degree vs. other majors.

—Joe Thompson

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Piffle. There are far more girls in college than boys, and there is an even bigger imbalance than that in STEM scholarships for girls. Why would I save for my daughter’s education when I know someone else is eager to pay for it? On the other hand, I want to coax my son into college, and I seem to be the only one interested in seeing him succeed there.

—John Paul Harmon

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Here’s the bias.

Females account for 60% of undergraduates; females dominate postgraduate studies in the humanities as well as law school.

Is this huge imbalance/bias of the slightest concern to feminists?

Of course not.

—Ed Johnson

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Parents know their daughters can and will get jobs while in college to help out with expenses, while their sons will hang out at the frat house recovering from last night’s party and planning tonight’s.... They don’t have time to work and they need the help! :)

—Frode Jensen

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Maybe parents want to make sure their sons aren’t living with them when their sons are 30.